I'm grateful to the Post for publishing this article because it gave us a new dimension to Fritz's story. Like a lot of obsessed people (maybe most?) he was not a nice person. He lacked empathy and he was quick to form petty grievances. It's tragic that he and his oldest son never reconciled before he died.

But what's just as interesting is the petty bickering in this thread. There is an irony here that I can't quite describe.

@pos5129

Success often requires sacrifice and discomfort; an idea we can't commit to without some level of obsession. 

Obsession Is the #1 Habit of Highly Successful People

Obsession has been defined as “the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, or desire.”

“The people who succeed are irrationally passionate about something”

I realize this is social media but these kind of observations have no relevancy without citing where you found these words. Maybe "inspirational quotes" on Brainyquote.com?

When we discuss things that are debatable, even if it is not audio, we should always have a source for where you have rooted your point.

There is no link between obsessed people and success. Take all the obsessed people in the world and, unbelievably, they are all successful? 50% are successful? And what are the parameters on success? Obsessed?

I would say that 100% of serial killers are obsessed. I would also state, without providing a link, that 100% of obsessed people are generally disliked, probably difficult to deal with, and treat others poorly. 

There is no silver lining with respect to obsession. 

Obsessed by definition is: A persistant disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling. (Pulled from Merriam-Webster dictionary). 

It would be helpful if we could have debates that are rooted in something else than a saying or a quote. All humans deserve intellectual conference, rather than a shot in the dark or an off the cuff remark that has no root in the truth.

My kids are 21 and 23 and I am 100% confident that we will never be estranged. I have a wonderful, honest and comfortable relationship with my wife of 25 years. I have a wide circle of friends...

Hear hear! These elements are so fundamental to a happy and fulfilling life, that I cannot imagine being able to enjoy anything -- a stellar audio rig, included -- without these fundamentals. In other words, the enjoyment of music and sound are premised on a wider and deeper foundation -- or at least this is how I am set up.

Actually, Bell Labs was located in Murray Hill, NJ. I used to go to their sound proof room when I was a kid. A million dollars does not buy you great sound. Have you been to a reviewers system lately? LOL

The trick, pioneered in the early 1930s by engineers working at Bell Labs in New York and Abbey Road Studios in London, was in the two channels of sound. Recorded from separate microphones and played back through separate speakers, they could simulate the swirling warmth and depth of life.

He is no different than many, many people who have a strong work ethic and are workaholics. He just happens to be obsessed with audio, rather than another vocation as others may be. It’s as @ p05129 said.

There is so much wrong with this obsessive lifestyle of his, I wouldn't know where to start.

I guess it all depends on your definition of "successful". This guy was successful in building the system of his dreams/everyone else's nightmare, but at the cost of a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with his family. My worry about my record cleaner finally kicking the bucket doesn't get in the way of even the most mundane family matter. My kids are 21 and 23 and I am 100% confident that we will never be estranged. I have a wonderful, honest and comfortable relationship with my wife of 25 years. I have a wide circle of friends, some of which are music/audio enthusiasts, and more which are not. As far as I am concerned, I am a tremendous success. 

If your definition of success is wealth, you have been duped. I think a lot of what we are calling "obsession" is just somebody being a self-absorbed jerk. 

This guys life is like a Rorschach test for frequent posters here.  Some who think his obsession was justifiable, and liken him to creative artists who were obsessively driven…and the rest of us.

  I could never justify this guy’s behavior as one would justify Da Vinci or Beethoven.  Creative Artists in a separate category than bibliotheca, stamp collectors, art collectors, and audiophiles.  Matching components and optimizing rooms, supposedly to optimize the reproduction of sounds created by someone else, is not comparable to creating those sounds in the first place.  Book collecting, music collecting, bottle top collecting may be worthwhile hobbies in and of their own, but ultimately they are of less value than what is being collected in the first place.  I would not have wanted to grow up or marry into that family.

  Everyone who knows me thinks that my obsession with sound and music is over the top.  My wife showed me the article on Fritz.  I told her that the value of his life was to make people like me appear sane by way of comparison 

@carlsbad2 and @p05129 I knew there would likely be those that would respond as the two of you did with personal attacks because you likely see yourselves in what is being presented in the article. I feel sorry for you too.You have no idea my level of success in life; my profession or my athletic/musical abilities for that matter. Life is about balance something the two of you seem to not be able to grasp. I don’t need to brag about my level of income to me that is not what matters most having the love and respect of my wife and children is my most cherished achievement. I put four kids through college, 2 with masters degrees with no student debt attached to any of them, own my home outright. My wife and I take all our kids and grandkids on vacation for 1 week every year without fail to ensure connection remains in tact.When folks quote from how to be successful books I know they probably are not. I’ve never found much use in them other than to enrich the author. A mench is born not made,sorry.But I don’t put down those who did get a Phd I had to grind for mine (building a successful business),thats my story again no need to brag. My words of wisdom are cited from the book of my own life experience and hard work. To some my perspective may present as that of a mediocre loser, I’m ok with that.

I don't know about obcession.every other night on being at the hospital in a 6 year surgical residency has served me and my patients well.but it has been at at a price to me and my family.corporate has been a determination of medicine when we have the best technology but it ties our hands and won't let us use it .too many deniels by insurance and too much paperwork not just by physicians but by nurses most dislike it. The interview by the jet blue owner was asked why he didn't take meds for his ocd.simply stated would not haVe got much done.our image guided machine to fix brain fluid leaks has revolutionized skull base and sinus surgery.enjoy the music keep healthy.

Thanks @hilde45 for the links....and the object lesson of OCD/obsession allowed to become a kudzu that smothers all, including its’ owner.

Most have an obsession of some sort at some level. As pointed out, the successful illustrate that in their varied ways, and sometimes get to share the minus issues it bears when others about them just can’t deal with it anymore.....the current example our X-POTUS, who seems destined to spend the remainder of his life in courtrooms.

Unlike Ken, I don’t feel sorry for him at all....or his family.

Kens’ family? "Woulda’, coulda’, shouda’"...allowed his obsession to dominate their lives as well as his....

Goats like to eat kudzu. If this was realized and put to practice earlier, it might not have become ’the weed that ate the South.’

(An absurdovation to yours unruly to share: Put ’jit’ after Ken, no space....
sound familiar? 12" concrete walls....can’t/won’t share details about his equipment/space....). One can wonder about these things....

I’m a bit ADD/OCD...it has some benefits....and its’ drawbacks.

Fortunately, I have too many things that keep me preoccupied, and enough prodding by those about me to not allow me to get stuck on any one item or task.

I trust I’m not alone...here, there, and most anywhere else...to suffer to the degree of the late Mr.Fritz.....and, if there be an afterlife beyond this realm of reality....

Don’t seek Ken out...he’ll try to commandeer you to help in tuning the cosmos.

RIP, Ken....it may be heaven, but it could also be yet another version of hell.

After the enthusiasm for a million dollar hifi system the deeper, sadder story is  one of obsession, selfishness, alienation and loneliness. A sad tale of a one track, laser focused mind. But you’ve got to tip your hat for one fulfilling his life long dream. An accomplishment not often realized. 

I watched the YouTube video. So impressive.

I just read the article with half a tear in my eye because I already knew the story and it’s sad ending. But it really makes you think about your life choices and how they can affect others.

Rest in peace Ken Fritz.

I am happy for Ken for reaching his goal of putting together the ultimate hi-fi audio system. In doing so he must have sacrificed a lot, but the his health robbed him the joy of listening to his system. May He Rest In Peace

As we grow old, our health becomes a major issue. We all must take time to evaluate our own health and should not let anything else become a priority over one's health. So I leave you with some words of Wisdom from Lord Buddha:

One day, King Pasenadi of Kosala went to the Jetavana monastery after having his full morning meal. It was said that the king had eaten one quarter basket (about half a bushel) of rice with meat curry on that day; so while listening to the Buddha's discourse he felt very sleepy and was nodding most of the time. Seeing him nodding, the Buddha advised him to take a little less rice everyday and to decrease the amount on a sliding scale to the minimum of one-sixteenth part of the original amount he was taking. The king did as he was told and found that by eating less he became thin, but he felt very much lighter and enjoyed much better health. When he told the Buddha about this, the Buddha said to him, "O king! Health is a great boon; contentment is a great wealth; a close and trusted friend is the best relative; Nibbana is the greatest bliss."

Verse 204: Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth, a trusted friend is the best relative, Nibbana is the greatest bliss.

Carlsbad2 - couldn’t agree with you more, especially your opening sentence. 
You can tell who is successful in their life and who isn’t. Here are some quotes that I feel successful people resemble;

Success often requires sacrifice and discomfort; an idea we can't commit to without some level of obsession. 

Obsession Is the #1 Habit of Highly Successful People

Obsession has been defined as “the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, or desire.”

“The people who succeed are irrationally passionate about something”

“Obsession isn’t comfortable”

After watching original video on 2021, I had temptation to visit his listening room.

But I got the news that his health was deteriorating and no more visitor allowed.

It would be nice if could take over whole system, but I was hesitant to move to Richmond VA since it got too hot and humid during summer time.

Sad ending, but he devoted his life to audio fulfilling his lifelong dream.

The only bad thing is he could not have time to travel around with his five children.


I had travelled a lot with my three children and good relation with them while I spent lot of time on my audio.

Also I got twin granddaughter Jan 2nd, this year I now have four grandchildren.

I will not have strong devotion to audio as Mr Fritz but just enjoy nice music through my modest system, Scaena line array speaker augmented by Rel subwoofers and Altec basshorn through active crossover.

"obsession is never a good thing" said the man in search of mediocrity.   a very large percentage of successful people are OCD.  This is especially true in professions where practice and training is important, such as athletics and music; or where enless hours of intense work is required such as physics, math, and many leadership roles.  

I stand corrected. Obsession with the exception of extremely rare cases,the likes of Da Vinci,Tesla or Archimedes for example are never a good thing.Better?

For the rest of us mere mortals and non geniuses keep your sh*t in check is the moral of the story here. Even a dog knows when its been kicked or tripped over...I know abuse and extreme selfishness when I see it. I watched the documentary a while back and I did not come away with the thought Mr. Fritz's system was something I cared to experience, all I felt was sad for him,his story is one of someone out of touch and yes it is about extreme audiophiles and it most certainly is a tale of someone obsessed, but what do I know I'm not a genius just someone with sense enough not to take anything too far.

It is very enlightening... Thanks to the OP ...

in a multiple ways...

For sound quality journey...

Any audiophile as i am must dream to hear his system ... I do ...

but it is a sad story because he succeed at the end of his life... And he paid a big price ... Price being said here in all its different meanings ...

I actually don't think this article tells us much about "audiophiles," per se. Most audiophiles don't live the life he did nor treat their family as he did. 

And I agree with @mahgister that there are obsessions which are great things! Just have to keep balance across the multiple values and obligations of life.

I posted this because it makes the Ken Fritz story a bit more three dimensional.

i will not say that obsession is never a good thing...

So much discoveries in humankind comes from obsessed people from Archimedes to Tesla and beyond...

But obsessing about "sound" in this way is interesting case but i am not sure it is as you said a good thing, because perfectionism obsession is not the optimal attitude in this acoustic/ musical case ...

it is certainly not a road to take nor a person to imitate....

but as everybody i marvel at his room/system and i would love listening it... His family who paiy the real price are not so much interested by my curiosity...

Obsession is never a good thing.

Gald I don't meet the standard of many here that consider themselves "Audiophiles".

Obsession is never a good thing.

@goodlistening64 "And don’t get me started on those identical grandfather clock sound dampeners!"

The dual grandfather clocks ticking away with resonating cabinets and internal parts vibrating away inside in the background caught my attention as well.

Interesting, bizarre, and sad all at the same time for the family.

Anyone who can sacrifice everything for just one goal remind us of what we must value over any goal...Even if so much perseverance and dedication can teach us something too ...

By the way i dont envy him a bit...

My low cost system satisfy me because as in the Fritz case i created it myself ... But at a low cost price without too much human cost... 😊

The tale of this guy’s life is one that many here should reckon with. While I am a bit obsessed with my stereo, it does not interfere with my family and I respect the value of the dollar too much to take my desires to a level that makes people uncomfortable. 10 foot speakers, IMHO, would be fitting for a listening room full of 10 foot tall people!! And don’t get me started on those identical grandfather clock sound dampeners!

Ken’s life is a sad story on how any focus on any one thing can lead to failure in all the other parts of life that have much greater value in life...reminds me of all the people who can’t put their phone down!! 😒

The tale of this guy's life is one that many here should reckon with. While I am a bit obsessed with my stereo, it does not interfere with my family and I respect the value of the dollar too much to take my desires to a level that makes people uncomfortable. 10 foot speakers, IMHO, would be fitting for a listening room full of 10 foot tall people!! And don't get me started on those identical grandfather clock sound dampeners!

Ken's life is a sad story on how any focus on any one thing can lead to failure in all the other parts of life that have much greater value in life...reminds me of all the people who can't put their phone down!! 😒

noted a comment by the kids in the article  - 

“Nobody wanted to come to our house, because he wanted to put them to work,” said his daughter Patty, 58. “I think we went camping twice, never took vacation. It was just work, work, work.”

Now he is an audiophile.